“Dating as an adult can be quite difficult and frustrating, but when you add in being a survivor of abuse, it adds an entire new dimension to the process.” It really is different and though it’s been a number of years since I was dating, the childhood sexual abuse was something that hung over any…
How can parents and other adults help children and teens living with undiagnosed, untreated PTSD find the help they need? An understanding of the symptoms of PTSD is a good place to start. Some of the symptoms in children and teens are the same as those for babies and toddlers. These include hypervigilance, emotional distress…
But invisible? No. Mental illness can be seen if we, as a society, better educate ourselves on what to look for. This education will lead to understanding and both reduce stigma and save lives. It’s time we stop pretending mental illness is invisible and instead open our eyes. There’s a lot to think about in…
September is an important month for suicide prevention. World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, 2016) and National Suicide Prevention Week (September 5–11, 2016) provide us with opportunities to encourage people who are struggling with suicidal behavior to seek help, to assist friends, family members, and helping professionals in supporting individuals who are struggling with suicidal…
Using data from a survey that screened more than 46,000 Americans for depression, researchers found evidence that the condition is not properly diagnosed in many people. And even when diagnosed correctly, depression often goes untreated. This is not good, at all. There needs to be better treatment options, and there needs to be less stigma…
No one wants to be affected by child sexual abuse. No one wants it as part of their own personal experience. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen every day. One in 10 children will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old. Childhood sexual trauma affects a person forever. It can be a…
